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Xfinity Night Out with The E List!

(Disclaimer: We’re partnering with Xfinity to bring you this article and Night Out, but all opinions are our own).

I used to be one of those obnoxious people who loved to say, “Oh, I don’t watch TV”. As if I spent all my free time reading. Please. These days you’ll catch me shouting the answers to Jeopardy right along with my husband (who deserves a turn on the show), which then segues nicely into Modern Family reruns. My taste runs more to costume dramas and Anthony Bourdain, but I do love The Voice. TV is having a heyday with binge-worthy shows (This Is Us) and lots of folks we’re happy to have back in our living room (Larry David, Will and Grace!). My cable box is practically prehistoric, and we’re adding a TV to the library, so it was high time to visit the fresh and fancy new Xfinity Store in Groton.

Comcast offers lots more than cable these days…it’s the destination for every gizmo that powers your entertainment, communication, and security. And frankly, I had no idea that most of these services were available (when was the last time you peeked at their products page online? Probably never, like me). It’s much easier to get the full story at the Xfinity Store with handy stations set up to demo new products.

Xfinity X1

Back to the boxes: I was very excited to hear about X1, Comcast’s new cable box, which is more than a box or a guide — it’s a completely revolutionary way to access and watch TV. It’s a slim new box that boasts a DVR right inside (nope, we don’t even have THAT). And as fun as that DVR is going to be to record missed episodes of Poldark, what really wowed me was the voice remote. So all you have to say is “The Voice,” and there it is. No more searching and clicking. And if you or “someone else in the family” is interested in keeping up with the game while you’re glued to the shenanigans of Adam and Blake, you can press “c” on your remote for the Sports App and a window will pop up on your screen and share scores and stats.

Even kookier, with X1 and the new mobile Xfinity Stream TV app, you can stream live TV, On Demand, and anything you’ve saved on your DVR to your phone, laptop or iPad. Which means you’ll find me catching up with Ross and Demelza at the allergist.

xFi

Here’s a feature I so wish they had when my daughter was in high school. Nowadays, with Xfinity Internet, you can disconnect WiFi by device with the xFi app. My trick was unplugging the router; as punishing to me as to my kid. With xFi, it’s simple to switch the kid’s laptops, phones, and tablets off at bedtime, while you can still happily browse the worldwide interwebs or (my guilty pleasure) watch uplifting reruns of Ellen on YouTube. And here’s something every 21st-century household needs: the ability to switch EVERYONE off for a device-free dinner.

Xfinity Home

Weirdly, for someone so on top of technology, I’m late to the Smart Home game. Sure, I have an alarm system, but not all those sneaky gadgets like automatic lights and video cameras. You can, of course, install these things piecemeal, or you can get a package from XFINITY, which will keep an eye on everything, literally. And with their Xfinity Home app, you can see what’s happening on the homefront from wherever you happen to be. Returning home later than expected? Turn on your lights or the A/C with your phone. You’ll know if your daughter is throwing a party without giving you a heads up, because every time the front door opens, you’ll find out about it. Oh, and you’ll see the cars driving up the driveway, too. Not much happens around my empty nest these days, but it would be interesting to know if my dog barks all day long when I’m not home the way he does when I am. Plus, I’m so easily spooked, I hate coming home to a dark house. Nice to have an app for that.

Xfinity Voice

If you, like me, are always hunting for the cheapest way to call far-flung relatives, or your kid is doing a semester abroad, or we’re over THERE and want to phone home, you can make calls through your home phone on your mobile device through the Xfinity Connect app for FREE as long as you’re in WiFi. Plus, for those of us who never answer our home phone and are terrified to see the number of messages accruing on it, you can forward your home phone to your mobile device, and you’ll never miss a telemarketer again (or not).

xFi

Here’s a feature I so wish they had when my daughter was in high school. Nowadays, with Xfinity Internet, you can disconnect WiFi by device with the xFi app. My trick was unplugging the router; as punishing to me as to my kid. With xFi, it’s simple to switch the kid’s laptops, phones, and tablets off at bedtime, while you can still happily browse the worldwide interwebs or (my guilty pleasure) watch uplifting reruns of Ellen on YouTube. And here’s something every 21st-century household needs: the ability to switch EVERYONE off for a device-free dinner.

It’s been so long since I’ve looked at what services I have and what I pay for, I managed to upgrade my service to X1, add some premium channels and Xfinity Voice, and still pay less with a new bundle. While I can’t say you’ll be able to do that too, you have the opportunity to join me to learn more about Xfinity services at an upcoming Xfinity Night Out that I’m hosting.

Yes, I could go on extolling the bells and whistles of Xfinity products and services, but this article is long enough, and it’s more fun to see the products in person. So please join me at the Xfinity Store in Groton for drinks, hors-d’oeuvres, and demos on Wednesday, November 8th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Just in time for the iPhone X launch, football season and the Winter Olympics (there’s a dedicated Olympics 24/7 channel part of Comcast’s immersive X1 Olympics experience ), come learn about these new features, perhaps upgrade your service or plan a home security install, try out the iPhone X, enjoy cocktails and treats (catered by the geniuses at Gourmet Galley) and snag a free pair of blue tooth wireless headphones (an $80 value). Bring your gadgets to install the new Xfinity Apps.

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Some posts & Erica’s Picks contain affiliate links, from which The E List may receive a commission on sales should you use them to make a purchase. However, we only write about products that we genuinely like and feel are a good fit for our readers.